Case with simplified access to compact disks or similar disks

ABSTRACT

The case holds one or more compact disks or similar optical disks such as digital video disks or digital versatile disks. When the case is opened, a hinged portion of the disk well is biased to pull the spindle and a portion of the disk well away from the disks, thereby making the disk or disks easy to remove from the case. Moreover, in the embodiment including multiple disks, the case includes pivoting tabs which correspond to each disk. These tabs can be pivoted to extend from the inner cylindrical wall of the case and urge the disk laterally so as to protrude from the remaining disk or disks. Simultaneously, in order to allow the lateral movement of the disk, the pivoting of the tab urges against a triangular boss thereby pulling against a strap to cause a hinged portion of the floor of the disk retainer portion to pivot further away from the disk, thereby removing the spindle and some lateral clips from engagement with the disks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a case for carrying at least one optical disk or similar disk, wherein the disk or disks may be selectively and easily removed from the case.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Compact disks (CDs) and similar disks, such as digital video disks, digital versatile disks (DVDs) or optical disks have revolutionized the storage, delivery and sales of consumer music products, computer software and storage of both commercial and personal information. These disks further have the advantage that they are not significantly degraded by normal usage and repeated read operations. While these disks are likewise resistant to some extent to damage from ordinary handling, it is well known that these disks must be protected during storage and transportation as these disks are susceptible to physical surface damage which can render the disks unusable.

While the well-known “jewel box” and the many variations thereof have proven very satisfactory for the storage and transportation of single disks, further improvements are desired for making the disks easily removable from the case. Additionally, further improvements are desired for the transportation of multiple disks in a single container, in a compact configuration. Simply making the spindle and interior cylindrical walls of a prior art jewel box deeper, without more, in order to store and transport a plurality of disks has not proven entirely satisfactory in that the user must typically remove all the disks from the spindle and search for the desired disk. This process is unwieldy and leaves the disks susceptible to abrasion, dropping and similar damage.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for making compact disks or similar disks easily removable from a carrying case.

It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for storing and transporting multiple compact disks or similar optical disks within a single container.

It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for allowing one of multiple disks to be easily chosen from a single container, wherein the disks are protected from damage.

It is therefore a still further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for storing multiple disks that is aesthetically pleasing and attractive both in the visual and tactile aspects.

It is therefore a still further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method which achieves the above objects while maintaining a simple economical manufacturing process.

In a first aspect of this invention, these and other objects are attained by providing a folding case for at least one compact disk or similar disk. The case includes a spindle which is hinged and biased, along with a portion of the cylindrical wall surrounding the disk or disks, so as to pull away from the disk or disks when the folding case is opened, thereby making it simple to remove the disks from the case.

In a second aspect of this invention, these and other objects are attained by providing a folding case for compact disks or similar disks which includes a spindle and a partially cylindrical inner wall which are sufficiently deep to accommodate at least two disks. However, in order to provide further easy access to the disks, the case includes tab elements which are pivotably mounted so as to allow the user to pivot the tab elements through slots in the inner cylindrical wall in order to remove a selected disk from the case while leaving the other disk or disks in place. Additionally, the pivoting of the tab elements impinges against a tapered boss element in the rear of the disk retainer portion of the case, thereby urging the tapered boss element downward, thereby pulling a strap element so as to pull the hinge mounted spindle downwardly and away from the disks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the open case of the present invention, shown without disks.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along plane 2-2 of FIG. 1, illustrating the slots at different heights to engage different disks held within the case of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the open case of the present invention, shown with one of the tab elements depressed so as to extend a tab element through one of the slots and to pull the spindle downward and away from the disk nest.

FIG. 4 is a first perspective view of the open case of the present invention, including disks, shown with the spindle inserted through the central apertures of the disks.

FIG. 5 is a second perspective view of the open case of the present invention, including disks, shown with the spindle pulled away from the central apertures of the disks, and the lower disk protruding from the nest.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along plane 6-6 of FIG. 5, showing the spindle pulled away from the central apertures of the disks.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the disk retainer portion of the case of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the disk retainer portion of the case of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a detailed portion of FIG. 8, showing the triangular boss against which the pivoting tabs press to pull the spindle away from the central apertures of the disks.

FIG. 10 is a lower end view of the disk retainer portion of the case of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side plan view of the disk retainer portion of the case of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a upper perspective exploded view of the disk retainer portion of the case of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a lower perspective exploded view of the disk retainer portion of the case of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, one see that FIGS. 1-13 illustrate a case 10 for holding compact disks, digital video disks, digital versatile disks or other optical disks. In particular, the illustrated case 10 is particularly adapted for becoming the inner plastic part of commonly-owned application Ser. No. 10/513,648, entitled “A Metal Packaging”, filed Nov. 5, 2004, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Case 10 includes front cover 12, rear cover 14 and spine 16, typically formed integrally as a single integral piece and adapted to open and close as does a book. First living hinge 18 is integrally formed between front cover 12 and spine 16 while second living hinge 20 is integrally formed between rear cover 14 and spine 16. Front cover, rear cover 12 and spine 14 are all adapted to be secured to respective metal outer parts as described in the above-identified patent application Ser. No. 10/513,648.

Front cover 12 includes lip 22 formed around the periphery of the three exterior sides thereof (that is, the sides other than that where first living hinge 18 is formed). Likewise, rear cover 14 includes lip 24 formed around the periphery of the three exterior sides thereof (that is, the sides other than that where second living hinge 20 is formed). In the closed position, lip 22 abuts against lip 24 to form a flush alignment. Front and rear covers 12, 14 typically include either no lip adjacent to first and second living hinges 18, 20, respectively, or a lip of reduced height 30, 32 in these locations. Additionally, indentations 34, 36 are formed on the forward edges 38, 40 of the periphery the front and rear covers 12, 14, respectively, in order to create finger grips for the opening by the user of the closed case. The central interior of forward edge 38 of front cover 12 further includes latch 42 for engaging rear cover 14 and maintaining the front and rear covers 12, 14 in the closed position. Additionally, clips 50, 52 are formed inwardly adjacent from the ends of forward edge 38 on the interior of front cover 12. Clips 50, 52 are typically used to secure printed material related to the disk—such as, but not limited to, game instructions, software installation instructions, biography of the musical performers, details of the musical performance, etc.

Disk retainer portion 54 has a lower edge 56 which includes rods 58, 60 (see FIGS. 7, 8, 10 and 12) which are journaled for partial rotation within hinges 62, 64 which are formed on the interior of lip 24 of rear cover 14. Disk retainer portion 54 further includes cylindrical disk well 66, deep enough for at least two disks, which is formed from circular floor 68 and surrounded by partially cylindrical wall 70. Partially cylindrical wall 70 is relatively fixed in position throughout 180° as bounded by edges 72, 74. Additionally, partially circumferential clips 76, 78 are positioned at edges 72, 74, respectively and each extends the cylindrical wall 70 by approximately twenty degrees in order to engage a disk. Additionally, clips 77, 79 are formed on the partially cylindrical wall 70 in order to inhibit the disks from moving perpendicularly away from rear cover 14 and out of cylindrical disk well 66.

Circular floor 68 includes fixed portion 80 and hinged portion 82. Fixed portion 80 forms a general C-shape in FIG. 1 and is formed inwardly adjacent to partially cylindrical wall 70 and is in a fixed position in relation thereto. Hinged portion 82 is of a generally sideways T-shape in FIG. 1 and is joined to fixed portion 80 by flexible hinged area 84. Hinged portion 82 includes stem 87 which extends into fixed portion 80 and includes the flexible hinged area 84 therebetween. Moreover, spindle 86 is formed on stem 87. Hinged portion 82 further includes head portion 88 which completes the circular shape of partially cylindrical wall 70. The periphery of hinged portion 82 further includes clips 90, 92 which generally inhibit motion of the disks in directions both perpendicular and parallel to rear cover 14. Flexible hinged area 84 may be biased so as to pull hinged portion 82 downward thereby pulling spindle 86 and clips 90, 92 away from the disks upon the opening of the case 10, but to lie flat when the case 10 is closed thereby maintaining spindle 86 through the central apertures of the disks and clips 90, 92 engaging the disks.

As shown in FIG. 8, strap 94 is fastened to the rear of the head portion 88 and extends to the lower edge 56 of disk retainer portion 54. Proximate to lower edge 56, strap 94 includes edges 96, 98 of reduced thickness which are slidably engaged within cantilevered guides 102, 104 formed adjacent to lower edge 56. A triangular portion of strap 94 is urged toward the front of disk retainer portion 54 (recalling that FIG. 7 is the front of disk retainer portion 54 and FIG. 8 is the rear of disk retainer portion 54) thereby forming triangular boss 106. As will be explained hereinbelow, the urging of triangular boss 106 pulls strap 94 thereby further urging hinged portion 82 of circular floor 68 downwardly and urging disk retainer portion 54 to the configuration shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, slots 107, 108 are formed in the side of partially cylindrical wall 70. Slot 107 is formed at a level of a lower or first of two disks inserted into disk well 66 while slot 108 is formed at a level of an upper or second of two disks nested in disk well 66.

As shown in the exploded drawings of FIGS. 12 and 13, disk retainer portion 54 further includes an upper plate 110 and a lower plate 112 which snap engage to each other. The snap engagement of upper and lower plates 110, 112 further provides the pivot points 114, 116 for pivot apertures 118, 120 of pivoting tabs 122, 124. Pivoting tabs 122, 124 pass through slots 107, 108. Moreover, finger apertures 126, 128 pass through both upper and lower plates 110, 112 thereby allowing the user to pivot tab 122 or tab 124 through slot 107 or 108. This pivoting action of tab 122 or 124 causes finger 130 or 132 to urge against triangular boss 106 thereby pulling strap 94 and urging hinged portion 82 of circular floor 68 further downwardly and urging disk retainer portion 54 to the configuration shown in FIG. 6. This action further causes hinged portion 82, including clips 90, 92 and spindle 86, to disengage from the disks and disk retainer portion 54 to pivot slightly upwardly on hinges 62, 64. Simultaneously, this action causes one of tabs 122 or 124 to urge against one of the disks 1000 or 1002 thereby spreading partially circumferential clips 76, 78 and pushing or displacing the disk 1000 or 1002 laterally to a position where it may be easily removed from the case 10. This is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 4, lower disk 1000 is not visible as it is below upper disk 1002. Additionally, disk retainer portion 54 is in the flat or unpivoted configuration with respect to rear cover 14 (as shown in FIG. 2) such that the case 10 could be closed. However, in FIG. 5, pivoting tab 122, shown in phantom, has been urged to extend through lower slot 107. This movement of pivoting tab 122 performs two substantially simultaneous actions. Firstly, finger 130 is urged against triangular boss 106 thereby pulling strap 94 so that hinged portion 82 is pulled downwardly as described above. Secondly, pivoting tab 122 pushes lower disk 1000 so that lower disk 1000 is displaced and protrudes from behind upper disk 1002 thereby allowing the user to retrieve lower disk 1000 while leaving upper disk 1002 in place.

Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims. 

1. A case for holding an optical disk, comprising: an at least partially cylindrical wall for forming a disk well for holding the optical disk; said disk well including a floor with a first portion fixed with respect to said at least partially cylindrical wall and a second portion hinged with respect to said first portion.
 2. The case of claim 1 further including at least one slot formed in said cylindrical wall, and a tab mounted to be urged through said at least one slot to displace the disk.
 3. The case of claim 2 wherein said tab laterally displaces the disk.
 4. The case of claim 3 wherein said tab pivots through said slot.
 5. The case of claim 4 further wherein said second portion pivots away from the disk in response said tab pivoting so as to displace the disk at least partially from said disk well.
 6. The case of claim 5 including means for pivoting said second portion away from the disk in response to pivoting of said tab.
 7. The case of claim 6 wherein said second portion includes a spindle for passing through a central aperture of the disk.
 8. The case of claim 7 wherein said spindle is pulled out of the central aperture of the disk when said second portion pivots away from the disk.
 9. The case of claim 8 wherein said first portion includes first clips for engaging a periphery of the disk and said second portion includes second clips for engaging a periphery of the disk, wherein said first clips engage a periphery of the disk when said second portion pivots away from the disk and wherein said second clips are free of engagement to the disk when said second portion pivots away from the disk.
 10. The case of claim 9 wherein said tab is pivoted between a first position wherein said tab does not extend through said slot in said cylindrical wall and a second position wherein said tab extends through said slot in said cylindrical wall.
 11. The case of claim 10 further including apertures in an area of said case wherein a user can insert a user's finger to pivot said tab.
 12. The case of claim 11 further including a strap with a first end which is affixed to said second portion and a second end which includes a boss element, and wherein said tab includes a finger which engages said boss element and, in response to the pivoting of said tab, pulls said strap thereby pivoting said second portion away from the disk.
 13. The case of claim 12 further including a front cover, a spine, a rear cover, and a disk retainer portion hingeably engaged to said rear cover, said disk retainer portion including said disk well, said at least partially cylindrical wall, and said tab.
 14. The case of claim 13 wherein said front cover can close against said rear cover.
 15. The case of claim 14 wherein when said front cover is closed against said rear cover, said first portion is free of pivoting away from the disk.
 16. The case of claim 15 wherein when said second portion pivots away from the disks, said disk retainer portion pivots with respect to said rear cover.
 17. The case of claim 16 wherein said front cover, said rear cover and said spine are integrally formed.
 18. The case of claim 17 wherein said front cover, said rear cover and said spine are formed from a single piece of plastic.
 19. The case of claim 18 wherein a first living hinge is formed integrally between said front cover and said spine and a second living hinge is formed integrally between said rear cover and said spine.
 20. The case of claim 1, wherein said disk well holds a plurality of disks; wherein a plurality of slots are formed on said at least partially cylindrical wall, each slot being formed at a height corresponding to a respective disk; and wherein a plurality of tabs are mounted to be urged through a respective slot to displace a respective disk.
 21. A case for holding at least one optical disk, comprising: a front cover and a rear cover which have an open position and a closed position with respect to each other; a disk well for holding the at least one optical disk, including an at least partially cylindrical wall and a floor with a first portion fixed with respect to said at least partially cylindrical wall and a second portion hinged with respect to said first portion; and said first portion being biased with said second portion so that said first portion and said second portion engage the at least one optical disk when said case is in said closed position and said second portion pulls away from the at least one optical disk when said case is said open position.
 22. The case of claim 21 wherein said second portion includes a spindle for engaging a central aperture of the at least one optical disk when said case is in said closed position.
 23. The case of claim 22 wherein said second portion includes clips for engaging a periphery of said the at least one optical disk when said case is in said closed position.
 24. The case of claim 23 further including a spine formed between said front cover and said rear cover.
 25. The case of claim 24 wherein said front cover, said rear cover and said spine are integrally formed.
 26. The case of claim 25 wherein said front cover, said rear cover and said spine are formed from a single piece of plastic.
 27. The case of claim 26 wherein a first living hinge is formed integrally between said front cover and said spine and a second living hinge is formed integrally between said rear cover and said spine. 